August
17
Hyler Listed in Critical Condition
Joan Hyler, the veteran manager and former WMA talent agent, has been listed in critical condition at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a bring struck by a car on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu late Friday night. Her friends and family have started a web page to keep track of her progress. The first posting has elicited more than 70 messages of support:
Posted 2 days ago
Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you so very much for all of your support and love. (This post is being written by Jessica Roberts, and Nancy and Louis Berlin, her sister and brother-in-law).
Joan had just parked her car Friday evening, August 16th, on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, when she was struck by a passing vehicle, and sustained severe and multiple injuries. LA Sheriff officers were first on the scene, and she was taken to Pepperdine, and transferred by air to UCLA Westwood, where she is undergoing treatment.
Because she had a piece of paper in her hand with the address of the house she was going to, the officers were able to let friends and associates there know what happened, and they were able to go to UCLA and maintain a vigil overnight, and through the day Saturday.
We do not have any further details on what happened, who was involved, why, or even where her car is, and which police agency has her purse, keys etc. It's the weekend in California, and everything is closed. Police said that a preliminary report on what happened would be available in 2 weeks.
Nancy and Louis flew in this morning, and met Larry, who also flew in in the AM.
From late Friday through mid-afternoon Saturday, doctors worked constantly to assess the injuries. It is still too early to know the extent of the damage or the severity of the injuries but Joan is responding to commands to wiggle her fingers, etc., which is encouraging.
I've known Joan for years, since her William Morris days, where as a pioneer woman agent, she inevitably hit the glass ceiling and turned manager. She has always been an island of warmth and sanity in a tough, stressful business. She kept an overview, and enjoyed analyzing shifts and trends. I helped her teach a class last year: she was having a blast sharing her experience and insight about this crazy industry with her students, who adored her.
Here's Sunday night's status report:
Sunday, August 17th: The reports are more encouraging, but Joan is not out of the woods yet. There are plenty of positive signs, but still a lot of unknowns, so it's a wait and see scenario. Medically, it is way too complicated to describe, but from a non-professional, here are the positive signs:--Joan does not need any more blood. She did go through 40 units, however, and the medical staff here was quick to suggest that people who want to participate in her recovery, emotionally, should give blood to replenish the blood bank supply. It won't go directly to Joan, but it will make sure that there is more available for other patients in the coming weeks.
--We're going in and talking to Joan. She seems to be responding. I spent some time davening schachris (praying the morning prayers), and she stirred a lot, which I took as a sign that she understood something of what was going on. While I was there, the critical care support team came in to do an assessment, and did "move your right hand, left hand, toes" etc. And the appropriate parts of the body moved, to the small extent possible!
Until more medical progress is made, the only thing friends can do is provide emotional support. Joan is a very spiritual person. I firmly believe that we can directly support her with prayers. My tallit is on her feet, and my tefillin are in her room, so there is a physical presence of the "ruach hakodesh" (spirit of holiness), and I explained to Joan what I was doing. You can pray for her, and keep her in mind when you are donating blood.
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God speed!! You are strong in spirit and mind!!
Posted by: wil roddy | August 18, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Praying for a speedy and full recovery.
Doug Cohen
Posted by: Doug Cohen | August 19, 2008 at 09:30 AM
Godspeed...we are all praying for you. PCH is such a deathtrap--the speed limit needs to be much slower.
Posted by: Judi Bennett | August 29, 2008 at 05:28 PM